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Toddyh03 Profile
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Date Registered: 08-2011
Location: Lalor Park, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 1663
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Pokolbin State Forest and Watagans


Friday arvo (30 November 2012) I set off towards Broke, NSW with the aim of camping out and exploring Pokolbin State Forest on Saturday. I went the scenic route up through St Albans along dirt roads from Wisemans Ferry. I camped out at McNamara Park in Broke on the Friday. It's all camper and caravan style camping by the road side. I found a little overgrown 4wd track so went down and camped closer to the river.
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Walked over to the local pub/service station/corner store and had a few beers and a steak for dinner friday night.
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Packed up saturday and headed to Wollombi where I would check if Ian or Peter had managed to show up. Waited a few minutes after 10 and left as I figured they were both a long shot anyway.
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First stop was a quick visit to Wollombi Wines for some tasting. They have heaps of sculptures across the vineyard including a couple of classic utes.
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After grabbing a bottle I head to Cedar Creek Road to enter the Pokolbin State Forest. Followed it to the end but found that it entered private property.
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Turned back and headed up Sawpit Road, over a gravel causeway which was dry and into the forest.
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Followed Sawpit Road to Broken Back Trail. All easy forestry trails as I had expected to this point. Turned onto Yellow Rock Road and immediately the track was more overgrown and included a few small trees over the track.
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Cleared these and made it all the way to Yellow Rock. The last 100m or so includes a couple of small rock steps that require a bit of care but certainly shouldn't stop an exy. The views are well worth it.
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Found a hollowed out tree and went for a closer look to see if anything lived in there. Found this little guy
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From here it was just exploring. Found some very very overgrown tracks and a few dead ends. One cause by a fallen treed covered in vines.
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Apart from being overgrown all the tracks were of a pretty easy standard. Saw heaps of goannas while I was exploring. Hard to get a picture of them as they move pretty quick.
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Made my way across to the next ridge to have a look back at Yellow Rock. Hard to get a decent shot as the trees were pretty thick this side.
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At this point there was an almighty explosion down in the valley. Felt the shudder through my chest. At first I thought it might have been from mining. Turns out there is a military range nearby. Someone was having some fun.

Found a couple of decent ant hills. Not quite the cape or central australia size but decent.
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Made my way along Broken Back Trail to Broken Back Road which I followed to the electrical substation at the end. The substation doubles as a good lookout. I also found a much more difficult little short cut track up to the substation.
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From here it's an easy drive back along Broken Back Road through some farmland to bitumen. I tried to get a quick photo looking back up towards Yellow Rock. Bit hazy but you should get the idea.
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You can see the track I tookhere.

It was still pretty early in the day so I headed toward the Watagans for what was meant to be some more easy off-roading. Entered along Watagan Creek Road from Laguna. Very easy gravel road passing through farmland with some sections of bitumen. Found a little turtle crossing the road at one point so helped him move on a little quicker.
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After passing through farmland got to a sign that indicated it would get rougher from here.
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It did get rougher but was still very easy. Slow and steady a 2wd with decent clearance could get through here. Some small rutted sections but nothing too bad. Came across a nice looking waterfall that was barely trickling.
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Then I came across Old Mill Road. I've heard stories about this road being a huge 4wd challenge. I just had to have a look. Rumour was there was a massive hole down towards the creek that only massive 4x4 with 35's could get through. I had to see this hole.
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I passed 2 rangies that had both been lifted and had big muddies and both were covered in mud. I was thinking here we go this will be good. Heading down was easy. Couple of small puddles. Then I got to a bigger bog hole.
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Jumped out and got the feet wet. Only about 30cm deep and soft on the surface but harder stuff down around 5cm. Should be rite so through I went. Too easy and got to the creek.
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At this point I was thinking all these rumours had been massively exaggerated. That bog hole was nothing. Followed Old Mill Road all the way to New Mill Road and only a few puddles to contend with. Decided to head down New Mill Road. Wasn't long before I realised all the rumours were about this track. Not the old one. Came across this.
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I realised this was the 'hole' I had heard about. The side wall on the left was shoulder/chest high and the right wall was head high. I walked it and could barely stand it was so slippery. It was though pretty firm along the tracks. I figured worst case I can reverse out and turn around so I had a go. Got all the way to the top when the rear wheels dropped into the 'dips' at the top of the crest. The front tyres were full of clay so hey had no traction. I was going nowhere. All 4 wheels spinning. I reversed down about a foot and had another go. That tiny bit of momentum popped me straight up 1st go. Brilliant. I had done in an exy what people had said needed a 'proper' 4x4 with muddies and lockers.

From here is was another decent that included another similar 'hole'. This one wasn't quite as deep but the entry as definitely steeper. Luckily there was a chicken track around this one. Plenty of 2 wheel action. The BLSD definitely works on flatter ground as it kicked in a couple of time here.

This was a quote from another site about Old Mill Road:
Did the Watagans on the 27/08/11, It had been raining for a week before. The main tracks are all good, but Old Mill Rd has a approx 5ft hole/drop off at the bottom of the gully, with no way around it, no way a standard 4WD could get past it, a high lift truck may make it .

A few more bog holes and the climb back up and I was out and onto forestry roads again. Mission accomplished. Let out a little Yew!! at this point. Very satisfied with myself. Followed the forestry roads back out and headed home. I was running low on water and it was bloody hot still. Decided camping out wasn't the greatest idea.

You can see the track I took here.

Great weekend even with the excessive heat.

Last edited by Toddyh03, 6/Dec/2012, 9:54 am


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Toddyh X-2048 (c)
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Date Registered: 06-2008
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 5966
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Re:


Looked like a good trip Todd.
Wish I could have come along, the triple 40th wasn't as big as I thought and turned out to be a bit of a fizzer, oh well.

Might have to go back to Mill Rd and re investigate that one.
So many tracks in the Watagans, certainly plenty to explore.

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Date Registered: 08-2011
Location: Lalor Park, NSW
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Re: Pokolbin State Forest and Watagans


Bloody great track Tony. The 2nd hole (which I was too busy dodging to take photos) made the hole after the river crossing at Mt Walker look like childs play. I'd love to see Daniel stuck in that one emoticon

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Date Registered: 01-2009
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That radio repeater brings back some memories, helped build that as a 4th yr apprentice just a few years ago. Bit more of an antenna farm there now....plus the fence and razor wire....


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Date Registered: 01-2009
Location: Newcastle Australia
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Glad you had a good time, I just couldn't get away but would have loved to have joined you on this one.

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Date Registered: 08-2011
Location: Lalor Park, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 1663
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Re: Pokolbin State Forest and Watagans


Just found a video of the ARB guys doing Mill Road back in Jan 2011. They are coming down not going up like I was. Have a look from 2 mins onwards. From 3 mins shows you just how deep the hole is. Swallows up that red Jeep easy. When I said it was head high I wasn't exaggerating.


A lot of the guys are taking a chicken track around. It was way too overgrown when I was there. I suppose it has been 2 years since they did it. I wish I took more photos. The log over the creek is still there but you can't even see the chicken track.
Wider shot shows you it actually is the same place.
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